Hungry for Food Travels?

Among the
best reasons to travel is indulging in all sorts of traditional, cultural and
exotic foods available around the world.

Let us take
you on this food journey—we guarantee you’ll want to book your next flight!

Home to
many Michelin starred restaurants and “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, you will find
that food in Japan is an art form. Authentic handmade udon and ramen will
change your perspective on noodle soup forever, and carefully crafted Japanese
sushi is an experience unto itself. Even shopping at the grocery store is fun
in Japan, with unique packaging and creatively designed food making each trip a
novelty. Tokyo is the eating capital of Japan, with over 160,000 restaurants to
choose from—but since restaurants don’t open until 11am, it’s better to space
your meals out during the day. Don’t forget to check out the fish markets early
in the morning for a new food experience.

For cheap
and quick meals, Thailand is a backpacker’s heaven. Everywhere you go, you can
find delicious street food to awaken your taste buds. You must visit the
floating markets, where entire rivers are packed with vendors selling from
boats stacked high with fresh foods. Your food adventure in Thailand won’t be complete
without their famous Pad Thai: A large dish of these savory spiced noodles with
chicken or shrimp, bean sprouts and egg will cost you under $5. Thailand’s
iconic Tom Yum soup is a must-have as well, with bold aromatic flavors of
lemongrass and lime, a spicy chilli kick, and delicious fresh prawns and
mushrooms. The most popular dessert here is mango and sticky rice with sweet
coconut cream, which also makes a great sweet snack. For the brave and those
into special delicacies, you can sample roasted scorpions, centipedes and more!

The fresh
herbs and spices forming the base of Indonesian food pack this cuisine with
intense flavor! Nothing compares to Indonesian satay: marinated skewers of goat
or chicken meat cooked over a charcoal fire for a juicy, smoky treat. Grilled
chicken in Indonesia is flavorful and spicy—and the chickens here are small,
which means you can eat more of them. Pro tip: When buying Nasi Padang (rice
served with various side dishes), ask for the takeaway option to double your
rice portion. To find cheap food, go to the basement food court in malls, where
restaurants frequented by mall employees are very affordable. If you’re eating
at a Padang restaurant, order the local tea (Teh Hanget)—it’s almost always
free.

Filipino
food may not be presented as artistically as Japanese or Korean cuisine, but
the flavor in this food more than makes up for any aesthetic shortcoming.
Chicken adobo, from the Spanish word for “marinade”, is the most famous food in
the Philippines, so definitely try it out. For a different kind of street food,
try balut: a developing duck embryo boiled and eaten in the shell with a splash
of vinegar. If you like sweets, halo halo (meaning “mixed together”) is made of
ice shavings, evaporated milk and various sweet foods like fruits, sweet
potato, tapioca, coconut gel, and guava paste. The Philippines are second only
to Indonesia in the world for coconut production, so experience drinking
straight from a fresh coconut. Or try the local rum, available for cheaper than
bottled water! And with their vast amount of mango farms, the Philippines is
also famous for their dried mangoes. You’ll definitely want to buy a bag—or
three.

Hong Kong
is famous for dim sum, which includes small dishes of meat, seafood,
vegetables, and desserts, eaten at social gatherings called “yum cha”
(literally “drink tea”) where the Chinese share food and converse for hours.
Hong Kong is also known for a must-eat roast goose, marinated in secret spices
and cooked over charcoal until golden and crispy. Count how many different
kinds of BBQ pork, roast pork, duck, and sausages you can find hanging in
restaurant windows! They’re all marinated and cooked to perfection, paired with
rice or noodle soup and veggies with a delicious marinade sauce. Don’t forget
the night markets at Temple Street, an unforgettable street food experience—and
a disappearing one. The government is no longer renewing these vendors’
licenses, so be sure to try these rare eateries before they’re gone!

There is a
huge assortment of food in India, but don’t hang your hopes on eating beef, as
the cow is considered sacred in the Hindu religion. Instead, sample the
dizzying array of vegetarian cuisine on offer, including curried vegetables,
flat breads, rice, lentils, cheese, fruits, and a wide variety of sweets. Food
varies widely across this large country, influenced heavily by regional
geography, climate, and culture. Bread is an Indian staple and there are
several types to choose from, including naan, bhatura, kulcha, roti, chapatti
and many more. From simple dishes like keema (minced meat cooked with
vegetables and ginger), to kebabs served hot off the grill, to paneer
(delicious fresh cheese cooked in various ways) and curries, India’s tasty cuisine
will not disappoint. Note! Be careful buying food in India: you don’t want to
get sick, so avoid street vendors, only eat cooked foods, and only visit
restaurants that look busy and clean.

From regional specialties to seasonal delicacies,
there are too many dishes to try in Italy even if you were to spend a lifetime
doing so! You can’t visit Italy without trying their pizza, so choose between
Roman-style (paper-thin, crunchy crust) or Neapolitan-style pizza (thick and
fluffy crust) and chow down on this global favorite. Truffle, one of the most
expensive foods of the world, can be found in abundance in Italy with its
aromatic flavor added to pasta, pizza, risotto, and sauces. The world famous
ossobucco alla Milanese is a bone-in-veal shank cooked low and slow until the
meat melts off the bone in its own special broth. Try a refreshing and
delicious dessert of gelato made on-site the old-fashioned way. Take a
wine-and-cheese or food tour in the countryside to get the full experience of
fine Italian foods. Stick with the primo (first course) if you’re a vegetarian,
as the secondo (second course) is usually meat—both are very filling. To
experience the best foods in Italy, visit Rome, Sicily, and Bologna.

Fine dining, smaller
portions, and a high appreciation of fine food may be the secret to what keeps
the French fitting in to their high fashion clothes. Fresh fruits, vegetables
and fish are healthy options, and of course try the wine—some of the best in
the world. Take a food tour or a cooking class to learn the ins and outs of the
best cheeses, breads, chocolates, pastries, and other local foods available to
you. Try as much cheese as possible, as it is half the price of what you can get
in North America. Fresh bread straight out of the boulangerie oven is
irresistible so make sure you’re prepared to take some home! Cloud-like,
melt-in-your-mouth macarons are a French specialty, available in every flavor
imaginable. Check out Laduree and Peter Herme for some of the best macarons in
Paris. If you like street food, crepes are delicious and portable, and you can
choose between sweet or savory options. To warm up, try real French onion soup
and say bonjour to a world of flavor.

Indulging
in fresh fruits and seafood while you bask on the beach—what more can you ask
for? Here, do what the locals do at restaurants, lunch wagons, and at home, and
get a plate of Hawaiian food: Rice with kalua pig, pork or chicken laulau
(wrapped in leaves), dried beef or salmon on the side with taro and coconut
pudding for dessert. Hawaii’s iconic shaved ice with fresh, locally-sourced
fruit will help you cool down in the heat. One of Hawaii’s most traditional
local foods is saimin, a cultural dish with history: First influenced by egg
noodle soup brought over by the Chinese in the plantation era, this dish has as
many variations as there are immigrant groups who have come to the islands.
Hawaii’s famous poke has made its way all over North America: chunky raw fish
mixed with rice and various veggie toppings, poke is similar to ceviche without
the acidity, savory, and very filling. Poi mochi is influenced by the Japanese
rice dessert, but in Hawaii it comes fried with a crispy outside and a soft,
sticky fruit-filled inside. Enjoy food with cultural roots across the globe and
see how the locals have evolved it into something truly and uniquely Hawaiian.

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About Ingle International

A trusted name in the industry, Ingle International now part of MSH Americas provides customized travel insurance solutions for anyone studying, working, or living anywhere in the world. Representing insurers worldwide, Ingle International will find the right insurance product to suit the unique travel needs of groups and individuals. Specializing in insurance, health care, and emergency assistance services since 1946.